Tasting

402–My Brother And My Mate Played Me.

Cain:

Months Ago:

“What is going on, Nash? Just get to the point,” I demanded, standing in front of the canvas. I was trying to recall all the details of Nora to create a new painting, but with everything being rocky between us, I had to rely on my own memories.

She had lied to me and cheated on me, and it hurt more than I’d like to admit. I had saved myself for my mate, only to be fooled by her into thinking she was loyal. I wish she had at least told me she had cheated before we slept together. That way, I could have made an informed decision instead of finding out on my own.

“It’s about Nora,” Nash repeated, still catching his breath.

“You’ve said that already. Just explain what’s going on. Is she okay?” I started pacing around my studio, anxiety building. It was unnerving how much I still worried about her, even after learning she had played me.

“Something happened at her school today. Remember that friend of hers? The messy one who stayed with us for a while?” Nash’s voice was cautious, as if he knew I would catch on quickly.

And of course, I did.

I never liked that girl. She monopolized Nora’s time and even flirted with me. I still remembered the day Nora asked me to paint her friend. It made me feel low. Why would she ask me to paint her friend naked? That day, I began to suspect that Nora wasn’t as possessive of me as I was of her.

She handed me over to her friend, almost testing me to see if I’d lose control. I wonder how she would have reacted if I had asked her to be in a room with my naked friend? She would have not liked it and I would have never asked her. If it weren’t for years of restraint, I might have made a mistake—not because I was attracted to Natalya, but because… I’m cursed.

“I remember,” I said, focusing back on Nash.

“So, basically… she took pictures of your paintings, and one of them is of Nora,” Nash said, and I closed my eyes, frustration washing over me.

Of course, she did. It made sense now why she had rushed back to the room and left the painting unfinished. She took a photo of it and decided to use it against us.

“And now rumors are spreading that Nora, you, and… Ryker-” The moment Nash mentioned Ryker, it felt like the ground had been pulled out from beneath me.

“Ryker? Why would she drag Ryker into this?” I didn’t care if I sounded suspicious. I was more concerned about Ryker being involved than the implication of having an inappropriate relationship with my stepsister.

And that was because Ryker, my dear brother, knew very well that Nora was my mate.

“There’s a rumor that… Natalya has a picture of Ryker kissing Nora outside her room,” Nash said, flipping my world upside down once again.

I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths, but no matter how hard I tried, I felt like I was losing control. That can’t be true. She wouldn’t cheat on me with my brother, too. First, she slept with someone else, and now–my brother?

Or could it be the same guy?

No! Ryker knew

Nora was my mate. He would never do that to me. Or… maybe he did. After all, maybe he’s held a grudge against me all these years.

“Cain? Are you there?” Nash snapped me back to reality with his sharp tone.

“Huh?” I gulped, struggling to focus.

“Okay, let’s get her phone and remove the data,” I shrugged, wondering why Nash seemed so worked up. There was more to worry about. My eyes kept getting filled with tears as I imagined my mate and my brother being in a secret relationship behind my back.

“We can’t do that. We don’t know if she’s saved the images somewhere else. Besides, she might have chats with Nora too—if I’m not mistaken. Overall, Natalya has enough damning evidence to drag Nora into a huge mess,” Nash spoke urgently before adding, “We’ve got to protect Nora.”

I understood exactly what he meant. If these rumors proved true, Nora would be labeled the pack’s outcast. Not only would she be punished, but we might not even be around to help her.

“Okay, I’ve got a plan,” I said, temporarily pushing aside the thought of my brother’s alleged betrayal.

“Tell me,” Nash asked desperately.

However, Instead of responding to him, I zoned out. My mind kept traveling back to all the interactions Ryker had with Nora in front of me. But then again, why? Why would Nora do that to me?

Why would she sleep with my brother of all the people? And not only rob me from a mate but make me lose trust in my own brother?

“Cain! Where did you go?” Nash grunted, waking me back to the harsh reality. I gulped and prepared myself to explain to him my plan.

“We’ll get Silas to hypnotize Natalya and find out if the images and evidence are saved anywhere else,” I suggested, thinking it would be a simple solution. But when Nash stayed silent, I realized something wasn’t right.

Finally, in a calm yet definitive tone, he dismissed my idea by saying, “Natalya can’t be hypnotized.”